Russia does not plan to stop with Ukraine. Putin's propaganda machine openly states that Europe is the "next logical target" after Ukraine. So either the West will help Ukraine stop Putin now, or Putin will continue expanding his russian empire.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated this in his video address.
The President called on the countries to provide a specific list of weapons that would help protect both Ukraine and Europe from russian aggression.
“We need to arm Ukraine now. We urgently need heavy artillery, heavily armored vehicles, air defense systems and aircraft. Anything that can push back russian troops and stop russia's war crimes,” Zelenskyy stressed.
The President announced a list of necessary weapons for Ukraine:
- Artillery pieces (caliber 155 mm) and ammo;
- Artillery shells (152 mm caliber).
- Multiple Rocket Launch Systems: "Grad", "Uragan", or American M142 HIMARS;
- APCs (armored personnel carriers, infantry fighting vehicles, etc.);
- Tanks (T-72, either American or German analogs);
- Air defense systems (S-300, BUK, or similar modern western air defense systems);
- Combat aircraft.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy added that Ukraine not only managed to stop the russian army but also pushed them back. But the war is far from over - the russian federation is regrouping its troops, levying new forces and weapons to push on Kharkiv, Donbas and Mariupol.
“Freedom must be as well-armed as tyranny. The Western states have everything to ensure this. And so it also depends on them when tyranny loses and how many people we can save. Arm Ukraine now to protect freedom,” the President stressed.
Minister of Defence of Ukraine Oleksiy Reznikov appealed to foreign partners and urged them to provide Ukraine with long-range weapons.
According to US media reports, the Biden administration is ready to significantly expand the range of weapons it supplies to Ukraine. On 12 April, President of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier said that Germany would supply weapons to Ukraine in the war zone.